Estancia Tunel trail

Estancia Tunel trail

Near Ushuaia, this coastal hike offers spectacular panoramic views of the Beagle Channel, while you walk along a winding path through the Fuegian forest.

check_circle

Signaled footpath

phone_disabled

Network partially enabled

timer

Duration: 3 h

sync_alt

Round trip

Difficulty: Low

transfer_within_a_station

Longitude: 5km

report_problem

IMPORTANTE: Es necesario planificar su salida, extremando las precauciones en las temporadas de otoño e invierno, debido a que disminuyen las horas de luz natural, se registran temperaturas bajo cero y el terreno puede encontrarse con presencia de barro, hielo y/o nieve. Es fundamental contar con indumentaria y calzado adecuado. En caso de emergencia, llamar al 911.

12 kilometers east of Ushuaia is the Playa Larga Natural and Cultural Reserve. The access to the trail that leads to Estancia Túnel is located at the end of the gravel road that borders the coast, where there is a beacon called "Escarpados". The path is well marked and during the first stretch there are no major difficulties. However, the forest terrain is winding and in some areas there are roots and gentle slopes, so it is necessary to wear appropriate footwear to avoid slipping. During some parts of the route, the path borders the coast of the Beagle Channel, which allows you to appreciate the particular ecosystem of this area, where cherry forests develop along with other species of trees such as the canelo (white flowers), the hardwood and the notro (red flowers). After walking through the forest for about 1 kilometer, you will arrive at an open field where you can rest and observe the excellent panoramic view of the Beagle Channel. Continuing down the path, you must cross a stream, walk along the coastline, and finally descend a gentle slope that leads to  Estancia Túnel. This historical site, besides developing the cattle activity, also worked as a sawmill from 1917 until its closure. Today you can see what is left of the estancia, as a memory of past times that still resists the tides of time in front of the Beagle Channel. Other information of interest: During the hike you must cross a stream called "Lancha Packewaia". This name comes from a bay located on the south coast of Gable Island, and was given to a small boat of the Argentine Navy used to transport passengers. On January 8, 1975, during logistical support for an anthropological campaign of CADIC-CONICET, this boat was wrecked near the Escarpados Beacon, on the way to Estancia Túnel, when it hit a rock. In homage to this boat, the researchers named the study site after it, which later became a landmark for archaeology in Tierra del Fuego, giving birth to the Beagle Channel Archaeological Project.
Playa Larga, is a small but very showy, provincial reserve located in the coasts of the Beagle channel, next to the city of Ushuaia. It protects archaeological sites of high cultural and historical value.